I have sometimes thought, indeed, that the sole avenue and means of
a reconstructed sociology depended, primarily, on a new birth,
elevation, expansion, invigoration of woman, affording, for races to
come, (as the conditions that antedate birth are indispensable,) a
perfect motherhood. Great, great, indeed, far greater than they
know, is the sphere of women. But doubtless the question of such
new sociology all goes together, includes many varied and complex
influences and premises, and the man as well as the woman, and the
woman as well as the man.
[23] The question hinted here is one which time only can answer.
Must not the virtue of modern Individualism, continually enlarging,
usurping all, seriously affect, perhaps keep down entirely, in
America, the like of the ancient virtue of Patriotism, the fervid and
absorbing love of general country? I have no doubt myself that the two
will merge, and will mutually profit and brace each other, and that
from them a greater product, a third, will arise. But I feel that at
present they and their oppositions form a serious problem and paradox
in the United States.
[24] "SHOOTING NIAGARA."--I was at first roused to much anger and
abuse by this essay from Mr. Carlyle, so insulting to the theory of
America--but happening to think afterwards how I had more than once
been in the like mood, during which his essay was evidently cast, and
seen persons and things in the same light, (indeed some might say
there are signs of the same feeling in these Vistas)--I have since
read it again, not only as a study, expressing as it does certain
judgments from the highest feudal point of view, but have read it with
respect as coming from an earnest soul, and as contributing certain
sharp-cutting metallic grains, which, if not gold or silver, may be
good, hard, honest iron.
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